Abstract: A gas laser construction includes a second anode in the vicinity of the cathode, so that current can be directed through the second anode when the laser is at low current levels, thereby assuring an adequate supply of electrons around the cathode to avoid flicker in the laser output. Current flow can be controlled between the main anode at the anode end and this second anode, so that the second anode is used only when and to the extent needed. In this way, the power output of the gas laser is more dependably controlled by controlling the current level, even at low current levels, without output flicker which would ordinarily occur.

Abstract: A laser scanner having a rotating mirror, such as a POS scanner as used in supermarkets, uses a closed-loop velocity controlled DC brushless motor for rotating the mirror. In addition to providing a hall effect motor speed signal which is used for monitoring and safety features in association with the scanner, the DC brushless motor provides the advantages of greatly reduced power consumption, decreased temperature rise, less electrical noise in the analog scanner circuitry, reduced cost, and greatly reduced size, sometimes over 80%. The use of the inherent motor speed signal from the DC brushless motor also enables elimination of costly mechanical windswitches as typically used in prior scanners.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for the simultaneous application of a multiplicity of liquid samples to an object stage (2), more especially of sera to an object stage overgrown with cell cultures. In this connection, according to the invention the liquid samples are pressed with the aid of a multipipette (3) through a funnel plate (4), which rests immovably on the object stage (2) and which has a multiplicity of funnel-shaped containers (5) disposed side by side in a plane. The funnel plate (4) is then preferably left on the object stage (2) overgrown with cell cultures, until such time as incubation of the applied serum has taken place. By means of the process according to the invention, running of the sera is avoided and handling in a simple and reliable manner for the purposes of the laboratory investigation is guaranteed.

Abstract: An optical scanner apparatus particularly suited for use in a laser bar code reader includes a series of mirrors mounted in a basket-like array about the optical beam axis. A mirror is mounted obliquely across the beam axis, directly on the path of the beam, to fold the beam generally radially outwardly toward the array of mirrors. In one embodiment of the invention the oblique first mirror is rotated about the beam axis, while in another embodiment the oblique first mirror is held stationary and the array of mirrors is rotated, to reflect the beam forwardly, generally in the direction the beam axis is pointing. If the oblique first mirror rotates, a plurality of scan lines, including non-parallel scan lines, are formed on a surface to be scanned; if the array of mirrors is rotated instead of the single mirror, a series of parallel scan lines will be produced. The mirrors can be oriented at desired angles to produce virtually any desired scan pattern.

Abstract: A beam delivery system for delivering a laser beam from a stationary laser to a point in space under robot control has a universal or spherical shoulder joint which is free to rotate in any direction, a wrist joint which receives the beam from the shoulder joint and which allows the beam to be pointed in the required direction and a section of sliding tubes which couple the wrist joint directly to the shoulder joint in a straight line. The beam delivery system is constructed to be readily and effectively associated with a robot. The beam delivery system is mounted with the spherical or universal shoulder joint close to the vertical axis of the robot shoulder and with the spherical shoulder joint below the articulated arm mechanism of the robot so that the beam delivery system accesses a maximum volume beneath the articulated mechanism of the robot. The beam delivery system utilizes a minimum of internal mirrors to minimize power loss in the beam.

Abstract: A hand held bar code reader employs a laser diode as its laser source, for an efficient and compact construction. The diode is modulated, and an associated bar code reading detector is timed accordingly, so that (1) the effects of strong ambient light which may be present on the bar code surface can be subtracted out, by alternating reflected light readings of the detector between laser beam plus ambient and ambient alone, and subtracting the readings electronically, and (2) peak power can be increased to obtain more dependable readings while staying within permissible power levels for such devices, since average power is reduced by the modulation of the laser.

Abstract: A temperature responsive, gas entrapping material contained in a chamber connected to a gas laser tube selectively entraps gas to regulate the pressure in the laser tube. A temperature regulator adjusts the temperature of the gas entrapping material and thereby controls the pressure of the gas in the laser tube. The temperature of the gas entrapping material can be adjusted by cooling or by heating. The pressure in the laser tube is monitored. The tube voltage can be used to monitor the pressure. Temperature adjustment of the gas entrapping material permits development of optimum gas pressure in the laser tube for different wave lengths. In one embodiment the laser is a krypton gas laser and the gas entrapping material is activated charcoal or alumino-silicate. The gas entrapping material may be heated, during assembly of the gas laser, to a temperature high enough to remove foreign material which might otherwise interfere with the operation of the laser tube.

Abstract: A method and system for stabilizing the phase relationship of two RF-controlled mode locked lasers involves monitoring the output of both lasers and, with a phase detector/comparator, generating a voltage proportional to the phase difference between the two lasers. The voltage is amplified and filtered and fed into a voltage controlled phase delay connected to the mode locker of one of the lasers. The phase delay operates to delay the RF signal to the one laser according to the desired phase relationship. By disclosed methods and apparatus a single laser can also be stabilized to its own RF drive source to reduce noise effects, two lasers can be individually stabilized to a single RF source, or two lasers can each be stabilized to their own separate RF sources.

Abstract: A window assembly for a laser uses a uniaxial crystalline material such as quartz for the window, secured directly in a hard seal to a metal tubular end component. In order to avoid significant differential thermal expansion between the quartz window and the end component, the quartz crystal is cut in a Z-normal configuration, whereby the thermal expansion and other physical properties of the window are isotropic in the plane of the window. The ability to make a reliable direct seal to a metal component offsets any disadvantages of the Z-normal configuration thought to be controlling in the prior art. Through the disclosed method for assembling and mounting the window, reflection loses are reduced to a practical minimum comparable to that of any preferred conventional window orientation.

Abstract: A hand held laser bar code reader includes a motion sensor and associated circuitry to disable energization of the laser unless the bar code reader has just undergone some degree of motion. This safety feature avoids the possibility of the bar code reader's being held motionless for a long enough time to cause retinal damage to a human eye.

Abstract: A fast axial flow carbon dioxide laser has a laser head arranged to provide multiple folding of the laser beam into two, four or more linear passes. The construction of the head is such as to provide for generating either one laser beam or a pair of beams, by adjustment of optics. Located centrally in the laser head is a single exhaust manifold for exhausting all of the axially flowing gas from a series of colinear and spaced parallel discharge tubes on opposite sides of the exhaust manifold. Gas flow is from two outer inlet manifolds toward the central exhaust manifold, so that optics of the system are isolated from contamination and from the hot exhaust. Adequate distribution of gas within each discharge tube is assured by the manner in which the flowing gas is directed into the discharge tubes.

Abstract: A pneumatic controller for use in controlling airflow in a conditioned air distribution system is adjustable to accommodate different types of damper actuation and thermostats in different systems. The four-function controller can be manually reconfigured to be a direct acting/direct reset controller, a reverse acting/reverse reset controller, a direct action/reverse reset controller or a reverse acting/directing resent controller, all using a single diaphragm valve responsive to differential pressure between total air and static air inputs. A reset unit on one end of the controller can be mounted in four different positions, two upright and two inverted, to provide the four functions, with total air and static air inputs being reversed in position when the controller is in a reverse acting mode. A differential pressure responsive valve at the heart of the system is controlled by a spring which can act as either a tension spring, for direct acting, or as a compression spring, for reverse acting.